La Bourgeoisie 2010 Chardonnay

On the bottle: Our goal: to capture terroir in its most elegant form and to preserve the integrity of the wine world by rebelling against the 100 point system. A wine of of sustainable and environmentally friendly farming. No advertising. 100% chardonnay.

750mL, 13.5% Alc. by vol., HEB, $11.99

I bought this wine because the wine guy at HEB recommended it to me. This wine is made by The House of Independent Producers. I liked the bottle and the whole thumbing their nose at the establishment as well as the promise that the grapes were sustainable grown. The price wasn't bad either. Unfortunately this wine was rather forgettable. It tasted like any old chardonnay with nothing particularly remarkable about it. I would definitely drink it again, but I don't think I'd want to pay this much for it.

Casa Lapostolle 2007 Merlot (Cuvee Alexandre)

On the bottle: "85% Merlot; 15% Carmenère." Since the rest is just about the vineyard here are some tasting notes from their website: "Color: Inky deep red with bright violet hints. Nose: Expressive red fruit, with fresh notes of rosemary, white pepper and sweet spices. Elegant oak touches with notes of vanilla and subtle nutmeg.Palate: Pleasant attack with round and juicy tannins towards the mid palate, finishing with fresh acidity and a long and lasting sensation. Service and Food Pairing: Ready to drink now or cellar for several years. Decant and serve at 16° C to 18° C (58 to 64° F). Ideal companion for meats and elaborate dishes."


750mL, 14.1% Alc. by vol., Costco, $17.99

I can't remember the last time I drank a Merlot, and I really don't have a good reason for buying this one. I wanted to review a different varietal than any I had reviewed so far and this one had a high score from Wine Advocate or something. I didn't want to spend this much, but since it was Costco I thought I might be getting a really good deal on a great wine. The internet seems to think I didn't get a big discount, but I'm not too disappointed with this wine. It tastes like the char on a steak, and tastes better with food than alone. Dry mouth occurs briefly after each sip, but isn't too bad. I don't think I'll buy this particular wine again mainly because of price, but if I'm ever going to a fancy "steak party" I'll consider it.

Pacific Rim 2009 Gewürztraminer

On the bottle: Our Columbia Valley Gewürztraminer is fermented in stainless steel tanks with wild, native yeast - preserving a crisp profile that enhances rather than dominates fresh, vibrant cuisine. The true nature of out Gewürztraminer shines through with floral aromas and flavors of lychee, passion fruit and melon. AN enlightened pairing with chicken stay, moo shoo pork, roast turkey and all manner of curries.

750mL, 12.4% Alc. by vol., Costco, $9.99

I bought this wine because the last time I tried the Gewürztraminer varietal I really enjoyed it, the bottle has a nice design, and it was cheap. This comes in a screw top bottle, and it is delicious. When it's chilled doesn't have much of a smell, but it if warms up a bit it's scent is sharp. The flavor starts sweet, but has an acidic bite and warms my throat as I drink it. I think the flavor mellows out a bit, for the better, when it's been out of the fridge for a bit, but not as warm as room temp. I am curious about pairing this with spicy food, as I drank it with lemon-pepper baked salmon and rice. Overall I really liked this wine and will buy it again if I run across it and want a white that I don't need to blog about.

Chocolate Shop Chocolate Red Wine

On the bottle: Chocolate Shop. the ultimate "Chocolate Lover's Wine" is a deep, ruby red wine blended with rich, velvety chocolate. Inviting aromas of black cherry and dark chocolate combine in the glass and continue on the palate surrounded by hints of cocoa powder. Nuances of sweet red wine linger on the smooth finish. Chocolate Shop provides you with an indulgent wine experience like no other.

750mL, 12.5% Alc. by vol., Costco, $9.99

Oh my goodness this wine was so good! It's very sweet, but not too sweet. It smells like dark chocolate without a hint of bitterness. I was worried this wine would resemble Choco-Vine and be gross, but it is simply amazing! No sticky mouth at all, not sickeningly sweet, my only "complaint" is that it really can only pair with desserts and I like to drink wine with dinner and not as or with a dessert. My roommate and I have already made plans to do back to Costco tomorrow to buy a few more bottles. I highly recommend this wine to anyone who likes sweet wines and chocolate.

Evodia 2009 Altovinum Calatayud Garnacha

Now that I got through my backlog of wines I was too lazy to blog about, I'm finally drinking wine as I blog again!

On the bottle: who: a custom cuvee for Eric Solomon
what: 100% garnacha
when: vineyards planted up to 100 years ago
where: high altitude vineyards (2400-3000ft) in the mountainous village of Atea planted on pure slate soils
why: grenache this great usually goes for twice the price!
how: extract cork, pour in glass (optional), drink

750mL, 15% Alc. by vol., Randalls, $10.99 with Randalls card, normally $12.99

I bought this wine because it was recommended a while back on another wine blog I read, you can see that review here. I really liked the design of the label, it's a varietal I haven't tried yet, and since it wasn't too expensive I picked it up when I happened to see it at Randalls a few nights ago. It has a sharp smell and the taste of dark berries. It gives me the sticky mouth initially, but that goes away almost immediately after the wine has left my mouth. It's a very dark plum red in color, possibly the darkest wine I've reviewed so far. I like it, but I don't love it. I had a glass last night, and tonight I like it a little better. This feels like a wine I can grow to like better as I refine my wine palate, but perhaps I am too green for this wine right now. I would buy this wine again to bring to a party with other people who appreciate wine, and like dry reds.

Educated Guess 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon

On the bottle: Why "Educated Guess"? Have you ever found yourself in a wine shop restaurant perusing the wines and wondering... how do I choose the best wine for the money? You may admire ta label, recognize a name, or recall a great review... in essence you're making a "Educated Guess". This is exactly what goes on in the vineyards and wineries around the world. When should we pick the grapes? Should we barrel age in French Oak? Will our customers like the package? Our experts use their knowledge, intuition, and years of experience to make the best possible decisions; however, at the end of the day, it still remains and "Educated Guess". At Roots Run Deep we have done the Guesswork for you. This Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is the richest, ripest, and most complex Cabernet you can buy for the money. So don't settle for less, buy "Educated Guess"!

750mL, 14.5% Alc. by vol., HEB, $16.99

I bought this wine because of the chemistry formulas on the label. According to their website these are actual formulas used in wine-making, and they even have a PDF explaining them linked in this page . I really liked this wine, which is slightly unfortunate because it's over the $10 mark. It was spicy and flavorful, and went really well with the spicy, hearty pasta sauce I had for dinner with it. It did make my mouth feel sticky, like most cabs do, but it wasn't entirely unpleasant. I think the wine lives up to the hype on the label and I will try to buy it again at this price when I can. If it ever goes on sale I'll be stocking up.

2006 Levata Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

On the bottle: A delicious expression of the Montepulciano grape, this smooth tasting wine offers intense cherry and plum aromas and a dry harmonious flavor. Pair with grilled or stewed meats, savory sauces and pasta dishes. Serve at 64-68 F.

750mL, 12% Alc. by vol., Specs, $6.99

I bought this wine with the Yalumba Y Series Viognier which I reviewed first. I was drawn to the simple black and green label of this wine. I bought this wine because it was inexpensive and I have never tried the Montepulciano varietal. I drank this with dinner, which was a noodle stir fry. It wasn't a spicy stir fry and this wine paired well with it. This dry wine has a nice acidy punch and goes down smoothly. It didn't give me the sticky mouth feeling I get from Cabernet. As long as the price stays the same I would definitely buy this wine again. I'm interested to see if it pairs well with spicy food.

Starborough 2010 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

Winemaker's notes: Crisp and refreshing with layers of citrus and tropical fruit and hints of fresh green characters reminiscent of the region. The wine shows flavors of passion fruit, kiwi and guava over a citrus background.

750mL, 13.5% Alc. by vol., Randalls, $11.99 (on sale, normally $15.99)

I bought this wine because I wanted something easy to drink after a long day and I only had a complex red in the fridge. I didn't want to pick a big brand that was really cheap, so I chose to break the $10 mark for this. It was rather disappointing to me because it lacked much of any flavor. At first I though this may have been because I was rather tired at the time I drank it, but upon later inspection I felt the same. If this wine was around the $7-8 mark I'd buy it again, but I would never ever pay $16 for it.